[ 01/11/2010 - 04:46 PM ] MADRID, (PIC)-- Spanish authorities said it cannot grant former head of the Israeli Shin Bet Avi Dichter immunity from arrest and interrogation if he intends to visit its territories because of an arrest warrant issued against him.
Dichter was intending to travel to Madrid to attend a summit between officials from the Palestinian authority and Israel, but he cancelled his participation in the event for fear of arrest.
Spanish and Palestinian human rights organizations filed a lawsuit against a number of Israeli officials, including Dichter, with Spanish courts for their involvement in war crimes committed in 2002 in Al-Daraj neighborhood in the Gaza Strip which led to the death of 14 civilians including nine children and the injury of many others.
The Palestinian center for human rights hailed Spain for taking such step, saying it affirmed that its territories cannot be a safe haven for war criminals even if they enjoy diplomatic immunity.
The center urged Spain to abolish the recent amendments it made to the law of international jurisdiction, asserting that such amendments are against the international obligations laid over the shoulder of Spain.
Former Israeli official cancels Spain visit fearing arrest
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- Former chief of the Israeli internal security apparatus the Shabak Avi Dichter has called off a visit to Spain fearing arrest on the background of a case charging him and other Israeli officials of committing war crimes against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Yediot Ahronot reported on Tuesday that Dichter, an MK for Kadima party, was forced to cancel his visit to Madrid after the Spanish foreign ministry informed him that it would not be able to protect him from arrest.
The paper said that Dichter was invited to attend a conference for a coalition of peace organizations to consult on the Arab peace initiative, adding that he asked for guarantees from the Spanish authorities that he would not be detained but Madrid did not provide any.
Spanish and Palestinian human rights groups had filed lawsuits against Israeli officials for committing a war crime in Al-Darraj suburb in Gaza city in 2002 when the Israeli air force dropped a one ton bomb in a heavily populated area to kill Salah Shehade, the former commander of the Qassam Brigades the armed wing of Hamas. The bomb killed Shehade along with 14 civilians including nine children in addition to wounding tens others.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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